Clocking hardware FAQs
Do I need a clocking in machine at all?
No. Staff can clock in from a web browser or from their own phone using the
Syncro mobile app, with no hardware at all. A terminal makes sense where staff do not have work phones, where you want a fixed point everyone passes, or where you need to be certain one person cannot clock in for another. Many sites mix the two: terminals on the shop floor, the app for field staff.
How much does a clocking in machine cost?
Clocking terminals start at £395 excl. VAT for RFID card and fob models, rising to £995 excl. VAT for facial recognition units. Access control panels run from £450 to £650 excl. VAT depending on how many doors they control, and accessories such as cards, fobs and power supplies are £35 to £100 excl. VAT. Hardware is a one-off cost. The
software subscription is separate and starts at £2 per employee per month.
What is the difference between fingerprint, facial recognition and RFID clocking?
RFID uses a card or fob, which is simple and cheap but can be handed to a colleague. Fingerprint ties the clocking to the person, but struggles on hands that are wet, gloved or worn from manual work. Facial recognition is contactless and fast, works with gloves on, and suits busy entrances, but it is the most expensive option and records biometric data. Our
comparison of biometric and RFID clocking covers the trade-offs in full.
Is fingerprint or facial recognition clocking legal in the UK?
Yes, but with conditions. Fingerprint, face and palm data are special category data under UK GDPR, so you need a lawful basis, usually a data protection impact assessment before rolling it out, and a non-biometric alternative for staff who object. Consent alone is rarely a safe basis in an employment context, because of the imbalance between employer and employee. Our
guide to UK GDPR and attendance data sets out what you need in place.
What do I need to control a door, as well as a reader?
A reader alone does not open a door. You also need an access control panel to make the decision, sized to the number of doors, a lock such as a magnetic lock, a push to exit button and emergency break glass for the secure side, a power supply, and credentials for your staff. Our Leeds team will spec the whole door for you if you would rather not work it out from a parts list.
What is the difference between the C3 and Inbio access control panels?
Both come in one, two and four door versions and do the same core job. Inbio accepts fingerprint readers over RS485, matching the templates at the panel, which C3 does not. If any door needs fingerprint entry, choose Inbio. If everyone will use a card or fob, C3 is cheaper and simpler.
Can I use a clocking terminal outdoors?
Only if it is rated for it. Standard terminals are for indoor use and will not survive a winter on an external wall. We supply weatherproof versions of the facial recognition clock and reader for site gates, yards and outdoor entrances, which is the usual arrangement on construction sites and depots where nobody passes through an office.
Will this hardware work with my existing system?
Our readers report over Wiegand 26 or 34 bit, which is the standard access control format, so they connect to most third party controllers as well as ours. The clocking terminals are designed to work with Computime
workforce software. If you have existing equipment you want to keep, tell us what it is and we will tell you honestly whether it will work.
Do you install the hardware or do I arrange that?
Our Leeds team supplies, installs and supports the hardware, including training your staff on it. When you call about a fault you speak to the people who fitted it, not an overseas call centre.
